Scott Bessent, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, noted that he will complete most trade negotiations with countries around the world by October, Bloomberg reported on the 10th (local time).
Secretary Bessent mentioned in an interview with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 7th that the U.S. government plans to conclude trade negotiations with countries it has not yet reached agreements with by the end of October.
The U.S. government implemented a "new reciprocal tariff" against trade partners on the 7th, but negotiations with major trading nations such as China and Mexico are ongoing. Additionally, there is ongoing tension with countries like Russia, India, Brazil, Canada, and Switzerland over high tariffs.
Meanwhile, Secretary Bessent reaffirmed the importance of the independence of the Federal Reserve (Fed), stating that the next Fed chair must be someone who is "very well aligned with forward-looking thinking" rather than relying on past data.
He is a member of the committee deciding on the successor to Jerome Powell, the current Fed chair, and is mentioned as a candidate for the next Fed chair. However, he has reportedly informed President Donald Trump that he wishes to continue serving as Secretary of the Treasury.